Kolkata, Sep 23 (PTI) West Bengal plans to launch its own edible oil brand, beginning with mustard oil, on the lines of its dairy brand Banglar Dairy, Cooperation and Food and Supplies Minister Ashok Kirtania said on Wednesday.
Addressing a programme organised by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) here, Kirtania said the state wanted to boost oilseed production to become self-sufficient in edible oil.
“We want to increase oilseed production in the state to become self-sufficient. At the same time, we want to establish our own edible oil brand in the market and seek support from NDDB,” he said.
NDDB chairman Meenesh Shah said the board would help the state set up its own mustard oil brand, citing its experience in marketing edible oil, and offered support in procurement as well.
Agricultural Marketing and Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh said the state currently procured mustard from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and abroad, and blamed the previous state government for not encouraging white mustard cultivation.
He said farmers were being encouraged to take up mustard cultivation instead of additional potato farming, with the state having 25 lakh tonnes of potato production this year in excess of demand.
NDDB has launched its initiative to strengthen the edible oils value chain in the eastern region, covering West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.
As part of the initiative, NDDB will run a pilot in East Burdwan, Murshidabad, West Midnapore, Jhargram and South 24 Parganas districts, covering 525 acres, to boost production of mustard, groundnut and sunflower by engaging four milk cooperatives and six farmer producer organisations (FPOs), from whom it will procure the entire produce.
Meanwhile, NDDB and IIT Kharagpur also signed a pact at the event to collaborate on research, technology development, field validation, capacity building, post-harvest management, processing and value addition in the edible oils sector. PTI BSM MNB
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